WCC Announces Preseason Women's Hoops Poll

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - The Santa Clara University women's basketball team was picked by West Coast Conference coaches to finish fifth during the 2004-05 regular season, league officials announced Monday.

The Broncos return four starters and eight letterwinners from a team that advanced to the semifinals of the 2004 WCC Championship.

Gonzaga was picked as the favorite, receiving seven first-place votes. The Bulldogs return all five starters off a squad that went 18-12 last season, including Ashley Burke and Shannon Mathews, who were selected as two of five "Players to Watch" heading into the season.

Pepperdine placed second in the poll. The Waves have captured three of the last five regular season titles and advanced to the WNIT last year. Defending champions Loyola Marymount was listed third, followed by Saint Mary's.

Rounding out the preseason poll after the Broncos are San Francisco, San Diego and Portland.

Fans will see the 2004-05 Broncos first in action during two exhibition contests that will be at the Leavey Center. The preseason begins with a Nov. 5 meeting against San Francisco State and is followed by a Nov. 15 contest against UC Santa Cruz. Both contests are slated to begin at 7 p.m.